Political opposition activists in Beijing gain broad support
in cities throughout China, and are forming unprecedented democratic opposition
coalition. China Democracy Party leaders in Beijing announce plans an open
China Democracy Party National Representative Congress to be held in China
in 2000 to strengthen democratic opposition movement there; Oversees Free
China Movement Dissidents to send representatives to join Conference next
year

November 7, 1998

Washington D.C.- The Free China Movement, the Washington based
Chinese Democracy Movement umbrella coalition announced today that the
China Democratic Party, the democratic opposition party in China, will
be holding a national conference in the year 2000 in China to strengthen
the movement and coordinate pro democracy activities in China. The conference
is being sponsored by the "Steering Committee of the China Democracy Party
National Representative Convention" which is implementing projects such
as The China Human Rights Watch, Anti-Corruption Watch, and Religious Freedom
Watch. Members of the Opposition CDP National Conference Steering Committee
are prominent Chinese dissidents Xu Wenli, Gao Hongming, Cha Jianguo, Liu
Shizhuen, and Zhang Hui( more will be invited to join).

According to Shengde Lian, former Captain of Tian An Men Square, and
executive director of the Free China Movement, said "The China Democracy
Party National Representative Convention Steering Committee" will serve
the needs of more than 10 Chinese Democratic Party provincial committees
and coordinate the activities among them." Mr. Lian said, the "Free
China Movement Washington DC Office strongly supports the Chinese Democratic
Party's efforts to peacefully work for democratic change in China.
We will be contacting sympathetic American Congressmen, foundations, and
various human rights and pro-democracy organizations in order to solicit
their support for this very exciting and historical event."

He further stated, "The Chinese dissidents both inside and outside
China do not fear persecution. Just like Nelson Mendela, we will endure
all the necessary hardships in order to peacefully promote freedom, peace,
and democracy in China. There are hundreds of millions of Chinese people
who are yearning for democracy and improved economic conditions, something
the current communist dictatorship will never achieve because they are
inherently corrupt, evil, and do not believe in a democratic government."

He further commented, "According to the International Covenant of Civil
and Political Rights the Chinese government just signed one month ago,
the citizens of China have the rights of free association, and Chinese
law does not prohibit citizens to form a political party. We hope that
the Chinese Communist Government will abide by the newly signed Covenant;
however recent continuous arrests and detentions of Chinese Democracy Party
activists and other dissidents show otherwise. If we have the strong support
of the American people and international community, the Chinese government
will be less likely to arrest democratic opposition leaders and activists
in China, and the conference will go on as scheduled."

Joel Segal, American Director of the Free China Movement said, "The
United States government and the international community must make it clear
to the Chinese Government that we support the peaceful and democratic efforts
of the opposition leaders in China. Not to do so would be a betrayal
of the American ideal of democracy, and would be a slap in the face to
all Americans who fought and died for democracy all over the world, including
Asia." Furthermore, he said, " The United Nations International Covenant
Of Civil & Political Rights is a wonderful document, but if it is not
enforced by the United Nations than it has no teeth behind it, and will
not have the moral force that the drafters of the document intended it
to have. We must do what is right- support the China Democracy Party and
the other brave reformers of China who only want the same rights most of
the international community already enjoys- freedom and democracy."

All Chinese oversees dissidents in exile have been invited to attend
the China Democracy Party National Conference, something that many Chinese
dissidents who live oversees are welcoming. Wang Xizhe, oversees representative
of the dissident community in China, and a spokesperson and leader of the
Free China movement, said, "I am honored to be a member of the Steering
Committee. We call for the international support from the exile community
and in the international community. If we work together, China can have
a real chance to gain democracy in the near future!"